“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
–Matthew 5:11-12
BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED
The world tries to scare, frighten and herd counterfeit Christians with stories of martyrdom and persecution.
- Persecution of Christians is real
- Syrian priest describes Christian suffering in Aleppo
- Blood-red Trevi fountain a wake-up call on Christian persecution
- US State Dept winks at Pakistan’s violent persecution of Christians
While counterfeit Christians are easily controlled by fear, true believers in Jesus Christ are a different story.
Believers are assured time and again by God’s Word that persecution for the name of Jesus is something glorious.
“and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
–Acts 5:41
IN FACT, one of the ways one can tell the wheat from the chaff is by a person’s attitude about persecution for the name of Jesus. The righteous KNOW they are going to be persecuted: it is guaranteed, whether they live in the very last days or today.
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
–2Timothy 3:12
Persecution, Tribulation, Troubles, Trials: What the Bible says to Christians
The only way for believers to overcome Satan in the end times is the testimony of Jesus, His blood and the willingness to suffer death for that testimony.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
–Revelation 12:11
The times of coming chaos are a necessary prelude to Jesus Christ’s soon-to-be eternal kingdom. The days before Jesus’ second coming will be filled with persecution and tribulation.
For unbelievers, those days will be filled with fear, anxiety and terror. For the believer, those days will be filled with opportunities for eternal glory.
Suffering Persecution for Jesus Christ is Glory
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
–Matthew 5:10
Is the reader fearful for the future?
Has the reader been deceived about his salvation?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:”
–2Corinthians 4:3
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: May 9, 2016.]
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: ETPR/Stuart Miles, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR
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